Ginger is rich in biologically active substances
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The chief nutritionist of the Moscow Department of Health Antonina Starodubova urged not to abuse spicy and spicy food for those suffering from ARVI with a fever. It seems that everything is clear: if you get sick, forget about the acute. But all is not so simple. Spices and peppers have antibacterial and antiviral effects, and also boost the immune system. KP.RU reviewed the scientific background on the health benefits of spices.
Ginger
Do you like to brew ginger into tea, add it to soup and fish? Perhaps nature itself shows you the way to protect yourself from colds and other ailments. Ginger is rich in biologically active substances. Reduces fever – scientists have found a pronounced analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of this root.
Whether ginger juice helps fight the hepatitis C virus has been specifically studied. Test-tube studies have shown that there is a result. Ginger also showed herself well in the fight against the coronavirus.
It is a pity that it is difficult to make herbal medicines, and in the capsule the effect often disappears. However, adding dried ginger root to food or grating fresh ginger during cold season and rising coronavirus infection doesn’t hurt at all. The main thing is not to overdo it. The norm is 10-12 grams of fresh ginger or 1-1.5 grams of dried ginger per day.
Turmeric
With curcumin, which is part of turmeric, a similar story. According to many scientific studies, it works very well against coronavirus, influenza viruses, hepatitis C. Curcumin is well tolerated, up to 12 grams per day can be eaten. But it has not yet been possible to make curcumin work as a medicine in the human body, and not only in vitro, it has not yet succeeded, although scientists are trying.
Cinnamon and clove
Spicy drinks with juices and spices also fall among the winter joys for a reason. Cinnamon is quite capable of protecting the throat from germs, it stimulates the immune system. And cloves are good against a whole range of germs and fungi.
Pepper
Black pepper lowers blood pressure and prevents blood clots, helps fight asthma and germs, relieves pain, and improves mood. Chili helps to produce “hormones of happiness” – endorphins, speeds up the blood and promotes metabolism, the breakdown of fats and improves local metabolism. Some scientists believe that regular consumption of chili peppers can increase life expectancy. However, with a burning health assistant, you need to be careful, especially for people with diseases of the stomach and gallbladder. The norm for healthy people is no more than 15 g of chili per day.
IMPORTANT
But why, then, did the head of nutrition in Moscow advise you to avoid spices if you are sick? First, do not avoid, do not abuse. Unfortunately, tell people to treat themselves with pepper – people will overdo it, and the stomach will “plant”. So it is prudent to be warned. Second, as he noted, spices have more preventative value. In order not to get sick, yes. If you are sick, do what the doctor tells you. He knows the details of your body and will give you the best advice.
